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s autumn reaches toward winter and the year winds to a close, so does this series on “Those Amazing, Industrious, Inspiring, Devout (and seemingly Indefatigable) Cistercians.”  What better time to visit them, than for one of most celebrated times of the year?  Should it surprise us that these ascetic monks embraced the days leading up to Christmas as a penitential season, one of fasting and denial?  They were not alone for other monasteries kept the observance as well, as did the religious and laity who did not live their lives “enclosed.” 

Since the earliest days of the Christian church, Advent was embraced as a time of preparation [Latin ad-venio, “to come to”; hence Adventus Domini, “the coming of the Lord”]  Far from the frenzied, commercial rush we experience today―the mad race from the Thanksgiving table for “midnight madness” and super sales,  tinseled parties and cookie exchanges, requisite tree trimming, not to mention non-stop seasonal music pouring from our TVs, radios and department store speakers as the shop-a-thon continues and we pile our carts full of gifts (and then stand in long postal lines to send them off)―traditionally, the forty days before Christmas was more akin to Lent, given to prayer, fasting and almsgivings―and, yes, many long and blessed moments of silence as well!

Advent originated in early centuries AD, although a precise date remains elusive.  Practices in the Christian East and West varied slightly, but both observed a forty day fasting period.  In the East, Advent began November 15 with the feast of the Apostle Philip (“St. Philip’s fast”) and emphasized the Epiphany (the arrival of the Wisemen / Three Kings) and the Theophany (the Baptism of Jesus), both celebrated January 6th. 

In the West, through the fifth century writings of St. Gregory, bishop of Tours, France, we know that a penitential season was observed there beginning November 11th, the feast of St. Martin (“St. Martin’s fast) in preparation for the feast of the Nativity.  According to the second book of St. Gregory’s Ten Books of Histories (written c. 480 AD), three days of fasting were observed:  Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Throughout the next century, the practice spread from Tours throughout France and on to England and Northern Europe, coming late to Italy, where it was finally adopted by Rome between the sixth and seventh centuries.  The Western Roman church continued to emphasize the Nativity of the Lord as the culmination of the Advent fast, while the Eastern church emphasized the Epiphany and Theophany.  (It should be noted that the earliest documentation for the practice in the Eastern Greek church dates to the eighth century.)

In the West, the theme of Advent was further defined by Pope Gregory the Great in the seventh century.  Laws governing the fast were developed at different synods.  Since Advent was viewed as a penitential season―a vigil, during which one kept “watch” with prayer and fasting ―marriage was prohibited during the Advent.

 

The Magi pic

The Magi Journeying

by James Joseph Jacques Tissot

Between 1886 & 1894

 

 

Today, in the Roman church, Advent is observed for four weeks, with a minimum of four Sundays, and begins on the Sunday nearest to the feast of St. Andrew, November 30.  In the Eastern rite, Advent begins as it has for centuries past with the feast of St. Philip, November 15. 

Returning to the Cistercian Order, which continues today under two observances―the Order of Cistercians of the Common Observance and the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (known as the Trappists) ―Advent continues to be a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.  The practice is kept by other monastic orders as well, embraced with good cheer and light hearts, so characteristic of the monks and nuns.  Happily for us, the monasteries, being wholly self-supporting and being committed to offering only the best of their labors, make available a wide variety of fruitcakes and candies, preserves, honey, coffees and other delicious offerings, easily viewed and ordered by the modern marvel, the Internet.  Enjoy the resources below as you complete your own celebrations for the season. 

To learn more of the Advent traditions, or if you wish to step into a monastery kitchen to try your own hand at “Christmas Day Bread” or “Twelfth Night Cake” or one of the delightful vegetarian dishes, I highly recommend the works of  Brother Victor-Antoine d’Avila-Latourrette, a Benedictine monk at Our Lady of the Resurrection Monastery near Millbrook, New York:  Monastery Journey to Christmas;  From a Monastery Kitchen; Twelve Months of Monastery Soups, Sacred Feasts: From a Monastery Kitchen.

 

Monastery Sources (U.S.)

Anita Gordon is the award-winning and best-selling author of the Heart trilogy.  The first novel of the trilogy—The Valiant Heart (1991), a tenth century medieval—garnered numerous awards and recognitions including Romance Writers of America's prestigious Golden Heart Award. The sequel—The Defiant Heart(1993), a sweeping, epic style work—was on the bestsellers lists. The Captive Heart (1995) completed the trilogy. Writing under the pseudonym Kathleen Kirkwood, Anita has penned two Late-Victorian, paranormal romances:  A Slip In Time (1998), set in the Scottish Highlands in 1893, and Shades Of The Past(1999), a haunted tale set in England's west Midlands in 1882. Her next book, a 12th century medieval entitled His Fair Lady (2001), captured the Golden Quill Award for Best Historical Romance. Anita is currently working on a ghostly tale set in Civil War Maryland but when it's completed she will, once again, return to her medieval roots with a tale set in 13th century Wales.Visit Anita at www.anitagordon.com.

 

Any underlined word or phrase

takes you to a link. Enjoy!